Spring element

ABSTRACT

A resilient support for receiving a force acting thereon along a certain direction, and wherein the force is opposed by a bearing counterforce acting at least partly along a direction opposite to said certain direction, and which includes a plurality of bar elements, at least two bar elements confronting one another, each of the two confronting bar elements having end regions, and forming a rod pair, a linking bar joining the confronting bar elements at a first set of connecting locations spaced at a distance from any end region of any of the confronting bar elements, two other bar elements, each connecting the end regions off the two confronting bar elements at a second set of connecting locations so as to form a closed structure therewith, the other bar elements forming a bar pair, at least two of the means being resilient in at least one of flexion and torsion, one force acting on a location of at least one of the other bar elements, the other force acting on the linking bar, at least one of the forces acting on a location of one of the bar means which is remote from the connecting location of the one of the linking bar or bar pair with the rod pair.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 518,792, filed June 17,1983, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a resilient support for receiving a forceacting thereon along a certain direction, and wherein the force isopposed by a bearing counterforce acting at least partly along adirection opposite to the certain direction, and which includes aplurality of bar elements, at least two bar elements confronting oneanother, each of the two confronting bar elements having end regions,and forming rod pair means, linking bar means joining the confrontingbar elements at a first set of connecting locations spaced at a distancefrom any end region of any of the confronting bar elements, two otherbar elements, each connecting the end regions of the two confronting barelements at a second set of connecting locations so as to form a closedstructure therewith, the other bar elements forming bar pair means, atleast two of the means being resilient in at least one of flexion andtorsion, one force acting on a location of at least one of the other barelements, the other force acting on the linking bar means, and at leastone of the forces acting on a location of one of the bar means which isremote from the connecting location of the one of the bar means with therod pair means.

It has already been proposed that the center points of a spring lever befastened onto the end points of another spring lever supported in themiddle, by which means a branched spring element is formed, whichhowever involves the risk that in the case of point loading, the membersfastened only at the center of the lever in the manner of a scale would,pivot around this middle point and hence yield to the loading.

From GB-PS 117126 (Hero) e.g. a spring element according to the generalconcept of claim 1 has become known. In this case the connecting barslocated beneath a lattice of free and connected bars absorbing a forcewere of heavy construction, said connecting bars thereby absorbing theforce applied to the lattice by elastic deformation or flection. Sincedue to their wavy form the connecting bars provided relatively softspringing action, the overlying lattice was relatively stiff, for whichreason elastic blocks had to be arranged between said lattice and saidconnecting bars at the edge of this spring element. For this reason, thespring action of this known spring element was limited essentially tothe connecting bars.

Another element according to the general concept of claim 1 has becomeknown from U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,892,315 and 3,173,270 (Blancato). In thiscase a lattice as mentioned above is pushed upward along a slopingtrack, providing the spring action for a fender on a quay. The latticeitself is rigid.

Finally, a similar rigid lattice has also been proposed in FR-PS 2362308(commissariat) which, however, in reality does not act as a spring, butas a damper. In this case the bars are of tubular construction which(unelastically) deform under mechanical stress.

It is therefore an object of the invention to devise a spring element orresilient support such that almost the entire structural height can beutilized for spring travel, and so that the spring characteristic can beadapted in a wide range to the respective requirements in spite of a lowstructural height, and that the entire structural height can be utilizedfor spring travel, even when forming spring devices made up of springelements. In addition, the spring element, according to the presentinvention, has the object of countering a force to be absorbed by asupport force which is as uniform as possible, regardless of whether theforce is applied at individual points point-wise or is distributed overa larger surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes at least one closed series of segments made up ofbars, of which at least two opposite, connected bars are joined togetherby a connecting bar at such points as are at a distance from the end ofthe connected bars, while one force acts at least on one free barjoining the end points of the two connected bars, the other force actingon the connecting bar, whereas at least one force acts at a point of theconnecting bar or of the free bar which is located at a distance fromthe connection thereof with the connected bar, and by at least twomembers or pairs of members of the three members or member pairs,namely: A) connected bars, B) free bars and C) connecting bar, being ofspringing construction.

According to an especially expedient construction of the presentinvention, the two connected bars are of flexurally and/or torsionallyelastic construction.

By "end points", here the end points of a connected bar relating to aseries of segments is understood. As will be shown later, however,several series of segments can be joined together in the form of aladder, whereas, for example, in individual construction configurationsthe connected bars extend continuously across several series ofsegments. In such a construction, the end point of a connected bar in aseries of segments is then immediately adjacent to the end point of theconnected bar in the adjoining series of segments, or even meets thisend point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As an example, the invention is shown in the drawing in variousconfigurations and described below, wherein

FIG. 1 shows in perspective view a spring e element representing a baseelement;

FIG. 2 shows in perspective view a further spring element representing abase element;

FIG. 3 shows in a perspective view a variant of the base elementaccording to FIGS. 1 or 2, where the members of the spring element arein one layer;

FIG. 4 shows a base element in perspective view, the members of whichare arranged in two layers;

FIG. 5 shows in perspective view a spring device comprising two springelements according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows in perspective view the spring device according to FIG. 5in a configuration as a guardrail with elastic supporting members;

FIG. 7 shows in perspective view a spring device of rigidly mountedspring elements according to FIG. 2 arranged in series;

FIG. 8 shows in perspective view a spring device constructed of fourspring elements according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows in perspective view a spring device similar to FIG. 8,constructed as a bedspring;

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section along line X--X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a section similar to FIG. 10, but with merged bearingstrips, and

FIG. 12 shows a cross-section of a bedspring variant.

FIG. 13 shows an end view of the spring element of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The spring element shown in FIG. 1 can be regarded as the base elementbecause it has the smallest number of members possible using the springelements according to the present invention.

As can be seen, it consists of a closed series of segments, in the caseunder consideration of a rectangle, the four sides of which are formedby rod pair means, such as two confronting free bars or bar elements 1and bar pair means in the form of two opposed connected bars or barelements 3 joined by linking bar means, such as a connecting bar 2. Thespring element is supported on a support 4, at the middle of itsconnecting bar 2, which is acted on by a supporting force S. On theopposite side there acts the force F to be absorbed. On this movableforce-acting side, any given number of force-applying points F₁, F₂, . .. F_(N) can be provided, at which corresponding forces are applied.Using FIG. 1 as an example, the free bars or bar elements 1 are thickerand hence of a less elastic construction than the connected bars or barelements 3 and the connecting link bar 2; in the extreme case the freebars 1 can also be of rigid construction.

In FIG. 2 two supports 4 are provided, on which the two free bars 1,which are constructed thinner here than the connected bar 2, aresupported. In place of the two supports 4, a single longitudinal supportcould also be used as is shown with dashed lines, and as will bedescribed below using FIGS. 7 and 9.

The spring element according to the present invention functions asfollows: when a force F is applied to the upper side of the elementshown in FIG. 1, the connecting link or bar 2 is bent downward on bothsides of its support in the middle. In this way the distance between itsend points is shortened, the end points being joined to the center ofthe connected bars 3. The middle points of the connected bars 3 ofelastic construction therefore follow the end points of the connectingbar 2 downward, but--relative to the spring element--toward the insideas well, while the end points of the connected bars 3 are fixed to thesubstantially less elastic or even rigid free bars 1. The connected bars3 are therefore subjected to bending, as well as to torsion. The lengthan object placed, for example on the free bars 1 of the spring element,according to the present invention, can travel corresponds to the sumsof the thicknesses of a free bar 1 and of a connected bar 3, namelyuntil the base of the object not shown here located between the two freebars 1, which are assumed to be at the same height, rests on the upperside of the connecting bar 2.

The spring element, according to FIG. 2 functions in a similar manner,whereas with point loading of a force application point F₁ the springtravel corresponds not only to the sum of the thicknesses of a free bar1 and a connected bar 3, but to the sum plus the height of the support4.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 solid connections are shown using dots, the connectionsholding the parts of the spring element together. However, it is alsopossible, and for certain applications it can be expedient to arrangespacing elements such as those shown as 15, 16 and 17 (FIG. 13), betweenthe members of the spring element, which themselves can be of solid orelastic construction (for example as rubber connecting elements). In thecase of only slight torsion forces occuring, the forces can undercertain circumstances be absorbed by the elastic rubber connectingelements, and a corresponding load is not transmitted to the connectedbar 3. However, it is also possible for the connection of the springelement members, especially the connection between the connected bars 3and the connecting bar 2, to be of movable construction, for exampleusing a hinge or ball joint, whereby torsion forces can also be avoided,absorbed or transmitted.

With the spring elements according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the parts arelocated in three layers. As shown in FIG. 3, however, these parts canalso be arranged in a single layer without changing the basicconstruction of the spring element. This applies regardless of whether arectangular construction as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is selected, orwhether a circular construction as shown in FIG. 3 is used. Anyintermediate solution is naturally also possible, with which, forexample, only the free bars 1 are in a level together with theconnecting bar 2 (or bars), while the connected bars 3 are in anotherlevel (cf. FIG. 4). This permits the construction of bumpers, dampingelements, for example for overhead lines and the like. The springelement according to FIG. 3 corresponds about to that of FIG. 1, and ismarked with the respective reference symbols 1a, 3a and 4a. Here, theindividual members shown by the braces merge, and correspondingly thetwo force-application sides S, F lie virtually in the same layer. Such aspring element can be used, for example, for the resilient suspension ofa pipeline 12, in which case the spring element is fixed, for example toa ceiling 13 at force-application points F₁, F₂, for example by means ofan elastic fork 11, while the pipeline 12 is suspended at forceapplication point S₁.

FIG. 4 shows the same spring elements as in FIG. 3, but the parts of theelements lie in two different layers. The one layer is formed by thefree two bars 1a (with force application points at the supports F₁ andF₂) and the two connected bars 3a, while only the connecting bar 2 liesin the second layer.

Especially when--as mentioned above--the fixation of the connecting bar2 at a point a distance away from the end points of the connected bar3a, preferably in the middle, is of movable construction, the connectedbars 3a can also be of less elastic or even rigid construction, if inaddition the free bars 1a, as well as the connecting bar 2, are loadedso that they are flexurally elastic in the same manner, so that themiddle points, as well as the end points of the connected bars 3a, driftinwardly approximately to the same extent.

Essential to the invention for construction of the spring elementaccording to FIGS. 1 to 4 is, on the one hand, the arrangement of thebars to one another as set forth in the independent claim, and on theother hand the application of the force. Due to the different types ofdeformation in the case of a rigid connection the offset arrangementprovides for the connected bars 3 to be torsioned and bent when thespring element is loaded. By means of dimensioning of the barsthemselves, as well as by the arrangement or material selection thereof,the spring characteristic of such an element can be adapted in a widerange to the respective requirements.

If several base elements are joined together, spring elements of anygiven size and shape can be formed. FIG. 5 shows such a spring devicewhich includes two base elements according to FIG. 1; several closedseries of segments 1, 3, 1, 3 are adjoined in a ladder-like manner,whereas two adjacent series of segments have one connected bar 3 incommon, and the free bars 1 are continuous as the straight bars of aladder. The two free bars 1 extending across the two base elements forma movable force application side F of a relatively large surface.Correspondingly, a much greater number of force-application points canbe provided here. Relating to the special shape of the construction, itis noted that the lateral stability, namely diagonal to the members 1,is relatively low. Conversely, the longitudinal stability is high andhigh forces can therewith be absorbed. It is to be noted, however, thatin function of the stability of the anchorage of the two supports 4 thespring element according to the present invention also has springingaction diagonal to the free bars 1, in which case in the event of aforce being applied in the plane of the spring element the connectingbar 2 is bent around its fixation point on the supports 4 in the planeof the spring element, or with a force being exerted diagonally fromabove it is additionally depressed downward and thereby torsioned

The embodiment according to FIG. 5 also shows that the support 4 neednot support the bar in the center. Here, the support 4 is located in thecenter of the connecting bar 2, but with regard to the length of thefree bars 1, the supporting action is distributed to two out-of-centerbearing points, as can also be the case with the embodiment according toFIG. 1 or 2 by the arrangement of two supports 4, for example each at1/3 of the length of the connecting bar (FIG. 1) or the free bars 1(FIG. 2). More than two bearing points can also naturally be arrangedmore or less uniformly over the length of the respective directlysupported bar. In this context the distributions of the bearing pointssimilar to FIG. 3 can also be seen in the FIGS. 6, 8, 10 and 11described below.

If with the spring device according to FIG. 5, the supports 4 arereplaced by beams 4', and the beams used for mounting the spring devicein the vertical position, the spring device according to FIG. 6 isobtained, which e.g. can be used as guardrail.

If several base elements according to FIG. 1 are arranged in series, aspring device according to FIG. 7 is obtained. Here, the support 4 formsa continuous supporting beam 4', on which several connecting bars 2 arearranged. With the example shown here the ladder stringers are henceformed by the connected bars or bar elements 3, while two adjoiningseries of segments have a free bar 1 is common. While the connectingbars or bar elements 2 only exhibit one force-application point S₁ each,any given number of force--application points F_(N) can be provided onthe free bars 1.

If the base elements according to FIG. 1 are arranged as per FIGS. 5 and7, a spring device as per FIG. 8 is obtained. There, two base elementsare arranged one behind another to a configuration as shown in FIG. 7.Two such constructions arranged one next to the other yield the springdevice according to FIG. 8, whereas in addition to the connected bars orbar elements 3 the free bars 1 also extend continuously. Here, twosuccessions of series of segments 1,3,1,3 are arranged ladder-likeadjoining one another in a plane such that two adjacent laddersuccessions have a continuous connected bar 3 and a free bar 1 incommon.

Such a spring device is shown as a bedspring for a mattress in FIG. 9,and the associated cross-section in FIG. 10. The spring constructionaccording to FIG. 9 has two supports 4 configured as beams which aremounted on a support base 7. The connecting bars 2 and the free bars 1,with the connected bars 3 in between, are fastened on the supports 4. Aframe 9 surrounding a mattress 10 is either mounted free on the supportbase 7 (FIGS. 10, 11), or connected to the connected bars 3 arranged atthe edge of the free bars 1 with blocks 2' between the free bars 1 (FIG.12).

The spring device according to FIG. 9 can be varied somewhat by the twomiddle connected bars 3 being merged to form a single bar as shown inFIG. 11. However, the remaining construction of the spring device is thesame as shown in FIG. 10.

Many other spring devices are conceivable which can be deduced from thebase elements and which are characterized by the movableforce-application side forming a nearly uniformly springing, evensurface, which with at least two rows of base elements arranged inparallel, exhibit an inherent lateral stability. Since with allconfigurations the members are offset to one another, one member cannotobstruct the spring travel of another member so that almost the entirestructural height of the spring device is available to them for flexuraltravel.

The members of the spring element according to the present invention canbe made of various materials, namely of plastic, wood or metal. They canalso consist of profiles or flat, hollow members.

The application possibilities of the spring elements according to thepresent invention are almost unlimited. In addition to the applicationsas bedspring, guardrail and pipe support mentioned above, the springdevices can be used on quays to protect ships. It is also possible tospring-mount machines, even in the case of very high weights.

I claim:
 1. A modular spring structure for receiving at least one forceacting in a certain direction and at least one counterforce acting in anopposite direction,comprising, a single tier of latticed element, saidlatticed elements comprising, a first pair of elongate bars, a secondpair of elongate bars, said second pair of elongate bars being connectedat a first set of connecting locations to said first pair of elongatebars to form a closed modular structure, an elongate linking bar, saidelongate linking bar being connected to said second pair of elongatebars at a second set of connecting locations, said second set ofconnecting locations being located remote from and between said firstset of connecting locations, and support means in contact with andapplying said counterforce to a localized region of said elongatelinking bar, said force acting on one of said pairs of elongate bars,wherein said force produces a torque in a first direction at said firstset of connecting locations, and said counterforce produces a torque ina direction opposite to said first direction at the second set ofconnecting locations, each of said second pair of elongate bars isresilient in and subjected to torsion and flexion upon application ofsaid force and counterforce to said modular spring structure, saidflexion occurring in the plane of said second pair of elongate bars andalso in the plane perpendicular thereto, and each of said elongate barsin contact with said support means is resilient in and subjected toflexion.
 2. The modular spring structure of claim 1 wherein said firstset of connecting locations is located near the end regions of saidfirst pair of elongate bars.
 3. The modular spring structure of claim 1wherein said first set of connecting locations is located near the endregions of said second pair of elongate bars.
 4. The modular springstructure of claim 1 wherein said second set of connecting locations islocated near the end regions of said elongate linking bar.
 5. Themodular spring structure of claim 1 wherein said second set ofconnecting locations is located near the central regions of said secondpair of elongate bars.
 6. The modular spring structure of claim 1wherein said second set of connecting locations is located near thecentral regions of said second pair of elongate bars.
 7. The modularspring structure of claim 1 wherein each of said elongate bars isresilient in flexion.
 8. The modular spring structure of claim 1 whereinsaid first pair of elongate bars, said second pair of elongate bars, andsaid elongate linking bar are disposed at three respective superimposedlevels.
 9. A spring device comprising a plurality of the modular springstructures of claim 1, said modular spring structures sharing a commonelongate bar.
 10. The spring device of claim 9 wherein said commonelongate bar comprises said first pair of elongate bars.
 11. The springdevice of claim 9 wherein said common elongate bar comprises said secondpair of elongate bars.
 12. The spring device of claim 9 wherein saidcommon elongate bar comprises said elongate linking bar.
 13. The springdevice of claim 9 wherein said plurality of modular spring structuresare disposed adjoining one another in a common plane.
 14. The modularspring structure of claim 9 wherein said elongate bars are rigidlyconnected to each other.
 15. The modular spring structure of claim 1further comprising spacers disposed between said elongate bars.
 16. Themodular spring structure of claim 1 wherein said first pair of elongatebars, said second pair of elongate bars, and said elongate linking barare disposed at two respective superimposed levels.
 17. The modularspring element of claim 1 wherein said support means is in contact withand applies said counter-force to a localized region of one of saidfirst pair of elongate bars, and wherein said force acts on saidelongate linking bars.
 18. A modular spring structure for receiving atleast one force acting in a certain direction and at least onecounterforce acting in an opposite direction,comprising a circular bar,said force being applied to said circular bar at a first set oflocations, an elongate linking bar, said elongate linking bar beingconnected to said circular bar at a second set of diametrically opposedlocations, said second set of locations being located remote from saidfirst set of locations, and support means in contact with and applyingsaid counterforce to a localized region of said elongate linking bar,said circular bar being resilient in and subject to torsion and flexionupon application of said force and counterforce.
 19. The modular springstructure of claim 18, whereinsaid first set of locations comprises twodiametrically opposed locations, said second set of locations is spacedby 90 degrees of arc from said first set of locations, and saidcounterforce is applied at the center of said elongate linking bar.